Mamelodi Sundowns keeper says it is not yet done until they lift African champions league title, against mighty Zamalek of Egypt at Borg El Arab stadium, Alexandria, Egypt on Sunday, October 23.
The South Africans are carrying a healthy 3-0 first leg win over the competition’s 5-time winners, into the second stanza; nonetheless, the Ugandan will not pop the champagne just yet, knowing the quality of the opposition.
“The mood is okay, we are very happy to be in the final, and we are happy to come here with a 3-0 lead. Nonetheless, we are not taking it for granted, we know the type of team we are playing against, it’s a very competitive team, everyone expects us to win, but it’s not yet done,” the 29-year old double nominee for the 2016 Africa’s best player of the year awards cautiously said.
Liberian Anthony Laffor and Tebogo Langerman scored in the first half, with Islam Gamal turning the ball into his own net early second half for the comfortable win a week ago in Pretoria, South Africa.
Before the grand finale, the two teams crossed swards twice at the group phase of the tournament in July, with “The Brazilians” as Sundowns are nicknamed winning in both occasions, however, Onyango, a former SC Villa, St.George and Supersport United shot stopper will not guarantee a fourth straight win, but promises a fight of their lives.
“We are playing a quality team; they are not in the final by accident or by default, they worked for it, they beat Wydad Casablanca here 4-0, and we know how dangerous they are when they play at home, but at the moment it’s in our hands, we have one hand on the trophy, and we are going to fight until the final whistle,” he added.
Onyango, the reigning ABSA premiership (South Africa’s topflight league) goalkeeper of the year, has enjoyed an envious season with the Pitso Masimone’s side, and has been a dominant figure in this campaign for the 2002 runners up.
He has also been rock solid for Uganda Cranes, which he guided to the AFCON 2017, as the East Africans made an emotional return to the continental showpiece for the first time in 39 years. The last time they graced the tournament in 1978, they lost 2-0 to Ghana in the final.
Winning the champions league for the first time will for sure be the icing on the cake for Onyango, and a childhood dream come true for the burly keeper.
Over 50,000 fans are expected to flood the 89,000 seater Borg El Arab stadium, as the “White Knights” rally home support for a possible miracle, as their coach Momen Soliman believes.
The match will kick-off at 2130 hours East Africa time.
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